DALLAS — Dallas police are shifting detectives to their homicide unit after the city recorded 40 homicides in May and a surge in violent crime compared to the start of last year.

WFAA-TV reported Friday that the Dallas Police Department will go from 14 detectives on the unit to 22.

According to WFAA, Dallas police reported a 150 percent increase in robberies between January and April compared to the first four months of 2018. Assaults went up 88 percent the same time, and forcible sex offenses went up 67 percent.

University of Texas at Dallas criminologist Alex Piquero said crime increases could be tied to a rise in population.